Kerala MLA moves SC seeking direction to Centre to protect lives from fatal human-animal conflicts

Kerala MLA urges Supreme Court for national strategy to reduce human-wildlife conflict, highlighting increasing fatalities in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Kerala legislator P.V. Anvar has moved the Supreme Court highlighting the increasing and serious challenges of human-wildlife conflict, drawing attention to the deaths of 13 people in Tamil Nadu and Kerala after fatal encounters with wild animals.

The MLA from Nilambur constituency in Kerala urged the court to direct the Centre to frame a technology-based strategy and action plan to reduce human-wildlife conflict at the national level and in selected States.

Mr. Anvar said the Union government should also create a national corpus fund for the compensation to the victims of human-wildlife conflict.

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“Human-wildlife conflict occurs where the needs of human beings and wildlife meet at a common point, like in the case of space, crops and other natural resources, especially in most densely populated States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, etc. The unscientific approach of afforestation in the country further worsens the situation,” the petition, filed through advocate Subhash Chandran K.R., submitted.

Kerala‘s significant forest cover, encompassing nearly 30% of its area, juxtaposed with densely populated human settlements and agricultural plantations near wildlife habitats, sets the stage for frequent human-animal conflicts. The geographical area of the State is covered by forests, affecting the lives of nearly 50 lakh families, particularly settler farmers near forested areas.

Since 2016, over 909 people have lost their lives in Kerala due to conflicts with animals, underscoring the urgency for effective mitigation strategies. As per the State Forest Department‘s study, Kerala witnessed human-wildlife conflict across 1,004 areas.